"Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered." (Mat 21:18-19)
This odd little occurrence that makes Matthew's record about Jesus seems hardly like good news. Jesus cursed a tree and it withered and died. The way Matthew rememebrs Jesus using this event is to teach about the power of faith. Jesus told the disciple if they have faith they can tell a mountain to move and it will. He ends by saying, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Mat 21:22)
Whether Jesus meant what he said literally is debated by commentators. I tend to think he used the prophet's oratory device known as hyperbole. He overstated things to make an impact. It would be like when we say, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Regardless Jesus meant for his students to know that faith without doubting results in mighty prayers. Wonders and signs of God's reign, of His divine power at work, happen when we have faith and pray without doubting.
I don't often have doubts in God's abilities when I pray. I tend to doubt that my requests fit within His plans for a particular person. At the bedside of a person dying of cancer, I pray for healing and help. I sometimes doubt that God will do it. He may find their lives best suited for heaven than earth at that point. But I pray knowing that God can do it. I don't know if that practical common sense approach is doubt that impedes God's hand or not. I doubt it. (pun intended) Perhaps my prayers would be more fruitful and my life in Christ more pleasing to Him if I prayed without the common sense.
Jesus cursed the fig tree because it wasn't bearing fruit. He was hungry and came expectantly to the fig tree to eat of its fruit. The disappointment and following curse has nothing to do with the tree, I suspect. It has to do with an unfruitful religious system in Jerusalem. The fig tree incident points to the following section of encounters with common sense thinking Pharisees and Sadducees and Herodians, chief priests and teachers of the law, scribes, etc. They cannot accept Jesus as Messiah. They did not accept John the Baptist and they do not accept Jesus. They question His authority. They try and discredit Him publicly by asking tricky questions. Jesus outfoxes their sly schemes and tells a few parables depicting the situation. One is about a vineyard owner.
The owner of the vineyard (God) put servants in charge (Israel) while he is away to another country. He sends representatives (prophets) to collect on the harvest, but the people entrusted with the vineyard beat and abuse them, even kill them. So the owner sends His son (Jesus Messiah) thinking surely they would treat him with respect and give an accounting for the harvest. But they killed the son as well. This parable of course is a little history lesson on Israel. They persecuted the prophets and soon they will kill Jesus.
As I continue this Daniel Fast during Holy Week, I remember Jesus and His suffering. My sufferings are nothing compared to His. I wonder if my life is fruitful. I wonder if the Master will be pleased when He comes to bring me to account for all that's been entrusted to me? Might this fast teach me to live with less so I can give more? When is enough enough? What is practical? What moves mountains?
Lord, when You come to me looking for fruit, may I be found pleasing in Your eyes. I know You hunger for works that brings glory to God and blesses others. Enable me to grow. Prune me that I might be even more fruitful. Keep my eyes fixed on You and Your command to believe and love. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment